Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Pulicaria Species

Pulicaria, a genus within the Asteraceae family, comprises aromatic herbs widely distributed across arid and semi-arid regions. These species accumulate a diverse array of secondary metabolites, prominently essential oils rich in oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, alongside flavonoids, sterols and triterpenes in non-volatile fractions. The essential oils of different Pulicaria taxa often exceed 200 distinct volatile organic compounds, with profiles that can serve as chemotaxonomic markers. Beyond their traditional uses in folk medicine, these phytochemicals exhibit broad biological activities: antimicrobial effects against bacteria and fungi, antioxidant capacities that mitigate oxidative stress, and cytotoxic or anti-angiogenic actions against cancer cell lines. Additional properties include antibiofilm and anti-enzymatic activities, allelopathic inhibition of competing plants and potential antiviral effects. Together, these findings underscore the genus’s promise as a source of natural bioactives for pharmaceutical development, agrochemical applications and dietary supplements, while highlighting the need for further in vivo validation and standardised extraction protocols.

Research from Nature Portfolio

An investigation into two Pulicaria species endemic to Sudan characterised crude extracts and essential oils by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, identifying 28 components in one species and 45 in the other. Key constituents such as caryophyllene, camphor and carvone dominated the profiles, and both extracts demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, coumarins, tannins, sterols and triterpenes, with notable absence of alkaloids and flavonoids in the volatile fraction. These foundational data support the development of plant-derived antimicrobial agents and provide a reference for comparative studies across Pulicaria taxa.

Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Pulicaria Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and biological activities of pulicaria species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Monoterpenes: Volatile compounds composed of two isoprene units (C10) commonly found in essential oils.

Sesquiterpenes: Terpenoid molecules consisting of three isoprene units (C15) contributing to aroma and bioactivity.

Flavonoids: Polyphenolic secondary metabolites with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): Lowest concentration of a substance required to prevent visible growth of a microorganism.

Antibiofilm activity: Ability of a compound to disrupt or prevent the formation of microbial biofilms on surfaces.

Allelopathy: Biochemical interaction in which one plant species inhibits the growth of another through released compounds.

References

1. A critical review on Pulicaria species occurring in Qatar: traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities. Phytochemistry Reviews (2024).
2. Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. as a Potential Source of Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Enzymatic Bioactive Molecules: Phytochemical Constituents, In Vitro and In Silico Pharmacological Analysis. Molecules (2023).
3. Antimicrobial activity, phytochemical screening of crude extracts, and essential oils constituents of two Pulicaria spp. growing in Sudan. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Chemical Profile, Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Antiviral Activities of Pulicaria crispa Most Potent Fraction: An In Vitro and In Silico Study. Molecules (2023).